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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumswhy GOP wins sometimes, imho
It is sort of amazing that republicans win at all, they are constantly exposing themselves as either idiots or awful mean people or both.
I think they reason they win sometimes is that they will all stick together and toe the line and agree to anything even if they know it isn't true. They will stick to it.
We, on the other hand, will argue about any damn thing. Look at DU. People are constantly looking for nuance of some story and trying to communicate different points of view. Republicans, man, they think what they are supposed to think.
I know I am over simplifying. I also know that by posting this to a bunch of democrats that most people will disagree with something about it.
I think that it is more healthy to have different opinions and hash them out rather than fall in line like a bunch of authoritarians, but I think it helps them "win." Like most of you, I learn more from people I don't agree with than from people I already agree with. I learn more from listening than from talking most of the time. But I don't think "they" are interested in "learning."
We should have like a safe word. A like "time to circle the wagons" signal.
NewJeffCT
(56,834 posts)and that was from Will Rogers some time in the 1920s or 30s.
"I'm not a member of an organized political party, I'm a Democrat."
Cary
(11,746 posts)Half of the population has an IQ under 100.
But there is a venn diagram, too. Having a lower IQ doesn't make you have to be an asshole. There are some of them with higher IQ's that are assholes. There is some authoritarian parenting style thrown in the mix.
Cary
(11,746 posts)But if you find a better explanation, do let me know. I have studied them for decades. Yes it is a generalization but I don't mind lumping the degenerates into one basket.
d_r
(6,907 posts)A picture of the bell curve helps remind me of this and I have shared it with others. I understand your point.
But I don think there are other variables there. I know a couple of folks with Down Syndrome who are kind and not assholes, but they have low IQ. I also know some mean people with above 100. Personally, I think around 115 is a prick zone, just smart enough to think they are smart.
I think that some of it comes from authoritarian parenting. They learn to follow authoritarians telling them what to do.
Honestly, I hypothesize that some of the meanness from the deplorables comes from not being breast fed when they were babies, but that is too speculative I am sure!
But my point was, their ability to follow the leader when the leader says line up, and to repeat a lie even though they should know it is a lie (but they will seemingly convince themselves it is the truth), is organizationally a strength.
I wouldn't want to pay the price for that strength, though.
Cary
(11,746 posts)The Bell Curve would apply to other forms of rank stupidity as well. I cite IQ more as an example than a literal measurement. There are many facets to intelligence. You're right. I know many people who score high IQs, but are stump stupid.